Two more pictures from my old family album . The Mahindra CJ 4A with a Hurricane petrol engine is a 1980 model. Clicked when brand new, it was my official jeep for a long time during my initial years of service. The diesels were dominating the markets then, but our department Geological Survey of India (GSI) for a long time opted for the Hurricane, even with the new CJ 4A body (Mahindra's three plus three rear bench seating and the tailgate/door hinges mounted vertically as opposed to the horizontallly mounted ones in the original design). The tailgate mounting brackets used to crack, owing to the stepney's weight. And the tailgate used to rattle a lot after constant use in the rough terrain for a few thousand kilometers. Mahindra corrected their flaws and by 1982, the tailgate door had a improved close/open lever, that used to fasten the door better to the body when closed.

The option for the petrol jeeps was mainly for the arduous nature of our "No roads or geographically hostile terrains" we worked in.

The last of the Hurricanes (WME 2384) used by me was however a very pleasent experience. It was the then best and only brand available for the tough terrrain in our country. Though it ran out of breath @ 110 kmph, it did its duties in the rough and even with a loaded trailer attached, very well. The slow jet in its Solex carburettor used to get clogged, but that was due to the quality of fuel in the rural areas then.

By 1982, the diesels were in the GSI, after their initial successful trials with the CJ 500 D on a pilot basis. The CJ 500 D's did the work equally well and had very less niggles. The engine noise though was awful. Two passengers seated side by side on the front seat were less audible while talking, due to the engine noise. A full day of drving would give a mild headache.

Continuing with yesterday's BYH 6075. Mistakenly, the same picture is posted twice, whereas I wanted to post this one. On the front seat is my cousin i.e. my uncle's younger son, Late Col. Dipayan Mukherjee of Army Medical Corps and on the back seat is "Yours Truly." The RTO annual tax badge would be a circular paper token with entries in pen.You will find this tax token affixed to the front axle in a circular plastic enclosure (an accessory). For cars the windscreens would do, but for two wheelers this was the practice. The Lambretta has a "L" plate too, indicating that my uncle was learning to drive a scooter.

Here is a gem from our family album, the picture shows an early model Herald Mark 1, (maybe 1962 as Karl tells me ).

The little girl in the picture is my mom, the picture is from 1964 or 1965 , and was captured at mom's home here in Jaipur, the house still stands , though the car was sold off a few years later, the car belonged to her brother.

Stanher,
I am sure you will like this picture, not only for the car but for the registration no., which was the subject of our discussion sometime back.

Here is a gem from our family album, the picture shows an early model Herald Mark 1, (maybe 1962 as Karl tells me ).

The little girl in the picture is my mom, the picture is from 1964 or 1965 , and was captured at mom's home here in Jaipur, the house still stands , though the car was sold off a few years later, the car belonged to her brother.

Stanher,
I am sure you will like this picture, not only for the car but for the registration no., which was the subject of our discussion sometime back.

Wow, nice pic.! So good that you have it preserved still!
Yes, the car could indeed have been a 1961-62, going by the position of the bootlid badge! What colour was it? Looks black? If so, the interior must've been red for sure! It must've also had the pressed cardboard dash with the large Jaeger speedo!
Do you know if it had a handle on the bonnet as well?

Travancore, I believe that is M.C. 13.N and is an original dealer plate from Madras. 13 would be the dealer and N is just a serial letter. I have photos of 13F taken in the 1930s and 13G (terrible photo not worth posting) also.
Cheers
Cedric